Weber: Illini need to work on jumping off to a better start

After a short Christmas break, Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber and the Illini went back to work on fixing the problems the team has faced.

John Supinie

After a short Christmas break, Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber and the Illini went back to work on fixing the problems the team has faced.

"We're just very disappointed in the performance the other night, not that we lost to Missouri, but we didn't execute much,'' Weber said. "Somehow, we have to have better mental toughness and discipline. It's my job to find a way to instill that.''

Illinois (8-4) hosts No. 25 Northwestern (10-1) in the Big Ten Conference opener Wednesday (8 p.m., BTN). While Northwestern appeared in the AP poll Monday for the first time since Jan. 14, 1969, the Illini searched for answers after losing their last two games. Weber and his staff worked up a checklist.

- Improved starts. Whether Illinois needs to change personnel, habits or warm-ups, the Illini must find a way to start faster in each half. In the last two games, the Illini were outscored in the first five minutes of each half.

"It seems like we're trying to catch up all the time,'' Weber said. "We talked to the guys about getting hyped and ready. It would be nice if they changed their mental demeanor. You set the tone. It might mean a change in the starting lineup over the next week.''

- Juggling the starting five. The most likely player to move into a starting role is junior forward Bill Cole, who generally scores well on the Matto play-hard chart but "didn't have one of his better games'' against Missouri, Weber said.

"You're kind of searching right now,'' Weber said. "I told them they can make me a better coach by playing better basketball. It makes it easier on you. You don't have to keep searching for answers and solutions.''

Guard Brandon Paul didn't miss practice time this week after injuring his ankle in the first minutes against Missouri.

- Defense. Illinois is likely to shrink its defense toward the basket, enabling the Illini to cover a smaller area instead of pressuring farther from the basket and perhaps allowing for more dribble penetration. Illinois also will tinker more with a zone defense.

"We felt like we have to back off with pressure, make it more compact,'' Weber said. "We're not stretching our defense out. We haven't done real well, especially away from home.''

- Shot selection. With center Mike Tisdale shooting 60 percent and forward Mike Davis hitting 51.2, Weber wants his big men to touch the ball more. By forcing the Illini to grind it out on offense until they get it inside, it might make for longer possessions on offense and therefore fewer possessions on defense.

"Shot selection has to get better,'' Weber said. "I'd like to allow them to have freedom and make decisions. If they can't deal with freedom, then I've got to control it. It's a factor in our games right now.''